As many as four new quarterbacks could be starting week six in the NFL, and only one is because of injury.
Rookie Spencer Rattler will replace the injured Derek Carr (oblique) for the New Orleans Saints as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Two veterans have already been benched for younger quarterbacks, while a third veteran quarterback may replace a younger one.
Two weeks ago the Carolina Panthers made the first quarterback change when they benched 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young for veteran Andy Dalton,
Got all of that?
Let’s start in New England where Drake Maye, the Patriots first-round pick (No. 3 overall), will take over for veteran Jacoby Brissett when the Pats host the Houston Texans. Brissett started the first five games and after an upset win over Cincinnati in week one, the team has lost four straight. The veteran completed 58.7 percent of his passes but has averaged just 139.2 passing yards per game. He has also been sacked 17 times.
Maye, in his only appearance of the season, completed four of eight passes for 22 yards and was sacked twice.
“It was only a matter of time,’’ a long-time executive in personnel for an AFC team said of the move. “I’m just a little surprised they’re doing it this week against a pretty good defense. They’re in London next week (against Jacksonville) so maybe they didn’t want that to be his first start.’’
The Las Vegas Raiders (2-3) have also made a change going with second-year man Aiden O’Connell to replace veteran Gardner Minshew as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two battled through training camp and Minshew won the job to start the season. Minshew completed 70.7 percent of his passes, but five interceptions, including a 100-yard pick six last week against Denver may have facilitated the change.
“I was surprised (Minshew) won the job in the first place,’’ the executive said. “I though O’C did a good job for them last year.’’
O’Connell started the last 10 games of the 2023 season and the Raiders went 5-5. The former Purdue QB threw eight touchdown passes without an interception in those 10 games.
Across the field from the Raiders are the Steelers where veteran Russell Wilson is finally healthy and practicing after being out with a calf injury. Justin Fields started the first five games for the Steelers and after a 3-0 start, the team has dropped its last two games to fall to 3-2. Fields is expected to start on the road against the Raiders, but Wilson will be ready and most think if Field starts slowly the change will be made.
“There was a lot of talk about how well Fields was playing,’’ the executive said. “But when they were 2-0 they only scored one touchdown. What he was doing was managing the game and he did that well. But when they needed to score points to win he was coming up short. Does Russ have anything left? We’ll see soon enough. He was terrible his first year in Denver, but he wasn’t that bad last year. It was just a bad mix with him and Sean (Payton, the head coach).’’
Rattler, the Saints fifth-round pick out of the University of South Carolina, will make his first NFL start for the injured Carr. Rattler beat out Jake Haener, who received Carr last week against Kansas City.
